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SOUTH CANTERBURY. Extract from the Report of the Inspectors of Schools. Some form of handwork is now practised in the majority of our schools; in the lower classes plasticine-modelling, brush drawing, paper-folding, and carton-work fin.ling most favour, and in the upper classes cardboard - modelling and more advanced brushwork. The Board employs a specially qualified teacher of cookery for the training of the girls of the Fifth and Sixth Standards in the larger centres, and purposes appointing a second teacher to cope with the increased demand for such classes. An instructor in woodwork is also employed in conducting classes for the boys of the same standards. Classes for practical instruction in elementary agriculture are recognised inseven schools, part of the school grounds being laid out as gardens, in which experimental work is carried on. Many of the teachers continue to display enthusiasm in the teaching of lessons that come under the head of nature-study. In this connection it may be remarked tllat the splendid attendance of teachers at the series of twelve lectures delivered at Timaru by the Principal and staff of the Lincoln College of Agriculture was specially gratifying to the Board. By arrangement the lectures were very fully reported in the Timaru Herald, and afterwards published in pamphlet form; and it is safe to say that a great deal of good must ultimately come from the fresh interest in agricultural science which the lectures aroused not only amongst the teachers for whom they were primarily intended, but also among the farmers of South Canterbury, many of whom found food for reflection and discussion in what the lecturers so clearly set before them. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 81st December, 1906, in respect of Special Classes for Teachers conducted at Timaru by the South Canterbury Education Board. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance at beginning of year .. .. 75 12 5 Salaries of instructors .. .. .. 57 0 6 Capitation on special classes .. .. 64 18 10 Advertising and printing .. .-. .. 12 14 6 Furniture, fittings apparatus .. .. 6 6 0 Material for class use .. .. .. 14 5 1 Material .. .. .. .. 7 7 6 Furniture, fittings, apparatus .. .. 6 9 0 Grant for instruction in agriculture .. 75 0 0 Refund railway fares .. .. .. 16 13 1 Grant for the training of teachers .. .. 150 0 0 Other expenses not classified .. .. 917 5 Grant for railway fares .. .. .. 16 13 1 Balance at end of year .. .. .. 278 18 3 £395 17 10 £395 17 10 A. Bell, Secretary. Extract from the Report of the Managers of the Timaru Associated Classes. During the year seventeen classes were conducted in various subjects by fourteen different teachers. In all there were 415 class entries, made up as follows: Electricity, 30; dressmaking (three classes), 61; engineering, 8; plumbing (two classes), 27; building-construction, 16; woodwork, 19; drawing, 14; wood-carving, 14; cookery, 13; shorthand, 35; book-keeping, 32: typewriting, 35; English, 55; arithmetic, 56. The average attendance for the whole term was 334. The session lasted for two terms of twelve weeks each, but the plumbing class was conducted for four terms, whilst engineering and electricity were only conducted for one term. It will beneficed from the above that the commercial classes have had the largest measure of support, while: the technical classes in some instances have not been well attended. In the month of June Mr. E. C. Isaac, Technical Inspector, visited the school, and reported favourably on the classes and the school generally. The Managers also at different times appointed visiting committees, who paid periodical visits of inspection to the classes whilst at work. The technical classes were all conducted in the Technical School, Arthur 'Street, whilst the continuation classes were conducted in the rooms of the Main School. It is hardly necessary to point out that this arrangement (although the best that can be made at present) is not quite so satisfactory as having all the students under one roof ; besides, the accommodation provided for school classes is hardly suitable for grown-up students ; again, from hygienic reasons it is not desirable to use a room in the evening which has been crowded with children during the day. A pleasing feature of the year's work was the keen interest taken in the building-construction class by the South Canterbury Builders' Association. If employers of labour would only use their influence with their employees and try and get them to avail themselves of the opportunities offered at their technical schools we are sure that they themselves would feel the benefit in the increased efficiency of their workpeople. The day may not be far distant when legislation will make it compulsory for all apprentices to attend a technical school so-many nights per week; this actually is done in some parts of Europe. The Managers would like to see the technical side of the school more highly developed, and in this connection an attempt will be made this year to get additional rooms added to the Technical School building. A room is absolutely necessary for carrying on the electricity, engineering, and buildingconstruction classes, as the only room available for those classes is the art room. No technical school is complete without a science room, and surely the largest town in South Canterbury, and a town of the size and importance of Timaru, is worthy of an up-to-date science room in its midst. Also, as the centre of an agricultural district such as this, agricultural chemistry should form one of the chief subjects of the curriculum. The year's work must be considered highly satisfactory. The students as a body have been earnest, diligent, and well behaved. The results of the examination at the end of. the term show that the students are doing good work. It is to be regretted, however, that more students do not avail themselves of the opportunities afforded of sitting for the South Kensington and City and Guilds of London Institute examinations.